 December 2024. It seems that each newsletter this year starts with how Haiti’s instability and gang activity are impacting how Missionary Flights is operating at the time of publication. In the beginning of November, gangs in Port-au-Prince vowed to make travel difficult until their demands were met. In the course of a couple days, they shot three different airline’s aircraft. This resulted in the Port-au-Prince airport being closed to all civilian aircraft. At this time, Missionary Flights anticipates that it will not be able to fly to Port-au-Prince until some time in the new year. Initially the FAA prohibited all U.S. aircraft from being below 10,000 feet over the country of Haiti. MFI was able to apply for permission to complete two evacuation flights. Once those were completed, the FAA adjusted the boundary for the restriction to be the southeastern part of the country and MFI was able to resume flights into Cap Haitien and Pignon. Please continue to pray for a resolution to this ongoing situation, for safety of the missionaries that we serve, and that God will be glorified..  Haitian Artisans proud of the shipment we helped transport to the U.S.  MFI’s DC-3 at the Stuart AirshowWhile on deputation, we got to participate in a cool God story. We were in Elgin for First Baptist’s missions conference. We got the opportunity to share in a Sunday school class along with several other local ministries. The director of the local pregnancy care organization was present and sharing about her organization’s ministry there. When we started sharing about what we do with Missionary Flights, she shared that the clinic had an ultrasound machine that they were trying to get to Haiti. Our first question was to whom she was trying to get it since we only fly for ministries that are connected with us. She named two names and the second one we knew off the bat was one of our regulars. So on Tuesday, James went over to TLC and loaded up the ultrasound machine. God had made sure that he had the tools to disassemble it enough to fit and the space in the vehicle to transport it. After we returned to Florida, we were able to get it loaded on the plane and sent to the doctor in Port-au-Prince that the clinic had been praying for about a year and a half to be able to get this equipment to him.  Ft Pierce Hangar Banquet First ultrasound in Port-au-Prince Now that we are back home from deputation, it has been announced at MFI that our Director of Flight Logistics is retiring at the end of this year. Beginning in January, James will step into this role. On the upside, James has been being groomed for this role. On the downside, this means that finding a new assistant for James is happening much quicker than we anticipated. Please pray that this transition happens seamlessly.Thank you for your faithfulness in love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI .James and Sam Gabhart If you are not currently receiving our monthly Prayerline with items you can pray for daily for our family and Missionary Flights, please click here to update your preferences to be added to that mailing list. Family News It’s incredible to think that we’re already in the Christmas and advent season. As we look back on this last year, there are so many things to be thankful for. We are so blessed by having three incredible children who have a heart to serve God. We are blessed by Sam’s mom being with us to afford us the ability to be at Missionary Flights as often as we need to be. We are blessed to have an incredible church family that we get to spend time with a couple of times a week. We are thankful for MFI and the trust and encouragement that they give us with the roles that we fulfill. Most importantly, we are grateful for you – our supporters and our prayer warriors. .  Deputation Travel Pictures Deputation Travel PicturesThinking about the kids, we are excited to have gotten to see Chris turn 14. This smart, spunky, goofy teenage boy has a beautiful heart to point people back to Christ. There are several times when his encouraging word to us is exactly what we needed at that precise moment. It’s going to be incredible to see how he continues to grow and mature in his faith in the coming years.  Starved Rock Chris is 14! Another thing we find ourselves incredibly grateful for is the scholarship the kids have for being homeschoolers with the state. The scholarship has given us the opportunity to try new things, and new curriculums. I know we’ve talked about it in the past, but to see them thrive in ways that we have not seen them thrive, is quite honestly the biggest blessing of them all. To know academically, that they are being challenged without finding major sources of frustration, is a gift. The ability to order them things that they are excited about— that sparks their interests— is just incredible .  Trunk or Treat Trunk or TreatThank you again for your love, support, and prayers this year.Here’s to 2025!  Praises and Prayer RequestsPraise that MFI has raised our support level to help reflect the higher costs of everything. Prayer that we are able to raise the difference of this new increase. Prayer for wisdom to know the right time for Kathy to have her first knee replacement. Prayer for the ability to recognize boundaries and to hold to them. Praise for the blessing of our new vehicle and it assisting us with daily life beautifully.< /li>Praise for our faithful supporters, both in prayer and financially. Prayer for God to bless their consistency to support the work He is doing. Prayer for MFI in the needed wisdom in filling open positions, and for God to provide the correct people to fill them Ministry Update We are so thankful to all who are following God’s leading in supporting us. The MFI Board increased our support level to $6,300 monthly. We currently receive $5,500 (87%) in monthly commitments. We need an additional $800 to be fully supported. Online Giving: www.missionaryflights.org/gabhartORMail Checks to: 3170 Airmans Drive Fort Pierce, FL 34946 Memo: Gabharts #2837Click here to download a printer friendly version.Copyright © 2024 Gabharts Flying By Faith, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you requested to receive communications from us. Our mailing address is: Gabharts Flying By Faith742 Forster AvenueSebastian, Florida 32958Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
"…Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…" Philippians 2:15b-16a